aleksberzinstravel-blog

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When speaking about traveling (even when I have written about it in my blog posts), most people think of flying to a foreign country, traveling can also refer to visiting places in your own country that may be near or far. One of the places that I suggest visiting whether or not you live in the United States, or are visiting from out of the country.

New York city is full of history, tourist attractions, and hidden gems. The city can offer something different to every person that visits. Some people go for the art, some for the food, some for the partying. But I have yet to meet a person that did not enjoy their visit to the city.

In US News Travel, there is an article that explains the best times to visit New York City, and it comes to a conclusion in the first sentence that anytime you visit NYC, it is the right time to do it. The article lists key events that are held in NYC throughout the year.

In an article written by Kim Foley MacKinnon, listed the Top Ten Reasons to Visit New York City. Among the reasons are Times Square, Statue of Liberty, and green spaces (Central Park). 

In another article, Aidan Ryan expresses some of his reasons why New York City may be the greatest city in the world.

I can list all the articles and post all the pictures in the world, but you won’t truly get the feel of New York and its beautiful city until you visit. So go. Travel. Visit. I promise you will not regret it.

New York 2014 - by: { SamAlive } | [Follow on Tumblr]

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Photo credits: Shutterstock

In this article, Rick Steves discusses the pros and cons of traveling alone. While everybody may have different opinions and preferences, in his mind, the pros far outweigh the cons.

Although if you are traveling alone, who is going to take cool pictures of you like this?

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It is not a secret that finding delicious places to eat in a foreign city or even a foreign country can be difficult. In this article, titled “Five Foods You Must Eat in Europe,” Matt Long discusses his favorite foods from Europe that are not just limited to specific countries (except maybe the gelato, which you may want to try in the country which it originated- Italy, and the croissant which can be found in Paris).

Of course many of these foods can be found in the United States, but if you try them here, you may just end up with a cheaper and unhealthier version. So, if you’re already in Europe, you might as well get the real deal.

So next time you’re walking on the streets of any country in Europe and you pass a McDonald’s or a Starbucks, walk a little further into a cafe or a restaurant that may have an unfamiliar name, and like Matt does, order familiar sounding foods. You may end up extremely satisfied and pleased with the outcome.

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Photo credits: Aleks Berzins

(Somewhere over the clouds)

Somewhere between going through security, driving hundreds of miles, and feeling sand between my toes, I have figured out that my goal in life is to see the world firsthand and I want to share my experiences with everyone through writing and photographs.

If you are looking for a semi-lengthy read about the benefits of traveling, read this article written by U.S. Travel Association.

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While I may be partly biased due to my backgrounds, this article reveals some of the greatest gems in the world in a country the size of West Virginia- that you have probably never heard of- Latvia. I found myself stumbling across this article when it was first published, and I could not be more proud that a country from which my family has come from was written about in such a positive light. Though Latvia has only regained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, its history, traditions, people, food, and landmarks shape Latvia into a destination that has plenty to offer anyone.

The history in the country is shown through the cobble stone streets, the castle remains, museums, and the traditions that people still continue from their ancestors.

This country is breathtakingly beautiful, and it would only make sense to make a pit stop in Latvia if you’re already in the neighborhood (or just anywhere in Europe since flights are so cheap).

Fun fact for anybody that has never heard of Latvia but goes to Michigan State University- This picture has 8 Latvians that all attend MSU... Yes, Latvian Americans do actually exist.

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When you travel you learn a lot about yourself. You learn how quickly you adapt to new places, new languages, you learn what you are made of, how long you can walk without rest, how little you can spend, how well you manage your money, you get to learn you real interpersonal skills, sense of orientation, knowledge, and you also get to discover what kind of things truly interest you.

Fernando Ortega

http://www.quora.com/Why-do-people-advise-travelling-so-much-when-I-ask-them-about-life-advice/answer/Fernando-Ortega-1?srid=u4Fo&share=1

In this article, Fernando Ortego describes why it is important to travel. He says that traveling will provide everybody with a different experience. Humans perspectives, interests, tastebuds, and skills differ. Nobody will ever have the same experience even if they travel to the same city and have the same agenda. However, the incredible thing about traveling, as Ortego pointed out, is that you discover who you are as a person. You discover where you want to go in life, what type of people you want to surround yourself with, and what your interests truly are.

Traveling, if one can afford to, is very beneficial to the soul.

On top of that, writing about your traveling experiences can serve to not only be a good keepsake for later years to reminisce, but if shared, can add insight and a whole new perspective for the readers.

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Dan Scotti believes that some people are born to travel. In an article, he refers to this as The Wanderlust Gene. He writes:

“Whether you call it wanderlust, a love of travel or regular old curiosity – the fact remains the same: Your hunger to explore simply cannot be quenched, no matter how many vacations or journeys you take.”

This article goes on to say that this is not so much by choice that people are this way, but it rather has to do with genetics. It is an interesting thing to think about, and really makes you wonder whether or not this is completely true.

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This image captures one of the many things I love about traveling. It gives a sense of contentment, peace, and serenity. It also captures the beauty of being alone. It’s almost as if you can feel the sounds that he is hearing: Birds chirping, wind blowing through the trees, the quiet crunching of the leaves. Because of the black and white, the viewer of this photograph focuses on the beauty of the surroundings, rather on the beauty of the color.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and I think that this picture may be worth even more than that.

If I don’t get to travel, and I don’t get to write, then I would like to take pictures like this.

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What do I pack?

Photo credits: Super Shuttle

Many people have a reputation of packing their whole entire life into a suitcase when they go somewhere even for just the weekend. 

Rick Steves knows that packing is actually a big part of traveling. It determines where you can go and how long you’ll be able to stay. He says in his article, Packing Smart and Traveling Light, “The measure of a good traveler is how light he or she travels.”

People do not understand the importance of traveling light vs luxuriously. A few things to point out may be that there is no need to pay for baggage when flying, you can have everything you need accessible to you when you need it, and it is a lot easier to carry around. Imagine having to walk around with a big purse, a duffel bag, and a rolling suitcase on your first day in Rome, because your plan wasn’t to go to the hotel until later. The risks you would be taking are your luggage could get lost, stolen, worn, or broken. Taking heavy baggage is also at the expense of you, because after lugging around heavy traveling items, one will get tired and then hungry and not even care about the world around them until their needs are satisfied. How does this sound to start a trip?

Rick Steves has many pointers and tips on traveling smart, and he happens to know what he’s talking about when it comes to traveling light.

His best advice: “Whether you're traveling for three weeks or three months, pack exactly the same.” 

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The beauty of the photography aspect of traveling is that as viewers, we are able to get a feel for the charm that this city of Nuwara Eliya had, without actually visiting. We are also able to learn about places that we probably have never heard of before, because of the traveler’s documentation of that place.

What a beautiful thing, to be able to share with the world the things that you have experienced.

10 Photos of Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Nuwara Eliya, which means “city of light”, is located in south central Sri Lanka at an elevation of 6100 ft (1879 m). Also known as “Little England”, its elevation gives it a cool/mild, humid climate year round, which is idea for growing vegetables.  It has been a hill resort destination for European to escape to since their first arrival. (I had the most relaxing ayurvedic massage that one could image in Nuwara Eliya.)

Most of the population are Hindu, as opposed to the Buddhism that predominates in most of Sri Lanka. Photos here show one of the many resorts (there are also golf courses and a horse race track), a batik and clothing market aimed mostly at tourists, and people picking vegetables in the foreground and tea on the hillside. Vegetables are for sale all over the town, including in the central market (note the many varieties of bananas, something seen throughout Sri Lanka) and on the side of the roadways.

I will be posting a separate blog of photos of the tea plantations that surround the city of Nuwara Eliya.

Click on the photos for full screen view. Photos taken by Alan A. Lew in 2014. Copyright: CC-BY-NC-SA

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Philadelphia: The City of Brotherly Love

So many great things to say about this city… Yes, being that it is my hometown, I may be a little biased, but who isn’t about where they come from?

Let’s think about the things that are unique to Philly

Cheesesteaks (one of the greatest foods you will ever eat… Sorry vegetarians)

Rocky Statue and Steps

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Boat House Row

The Liberty Bell

Independence Hall

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Longwood Gardens

LOVE Park

The Franklin Institute

Reading Terminal Market

Rodin Museum (featuring The Thinking Man)

Benjamin Franklin National Memorial

Eastern State Penitentiary

Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens

This isn’t a link to any article, and this isn’t me trying to persuade you to fall in love with the city in the way that I have… But if you haven’t already been here… Okay wait maybe I am asking you to fall in love with the city in the way that I have. Philadelphia is a place filled with such incredible culture and history, and that is definitely a place I would recommend to travel. Even if you just do a quick day tour-- trust me, it’s worth it.

Traveling doesn’t always imply that you have to fly somewhere to have a decent destination. Sometimes all it takes is a few hour drive to get to one of the oldest yet greatest cities in the nation.

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Not all those who wander are lost.

J.R.R. Tolkien

Sometimes traveling isn’t about finding yourself or just being curious, but rather not being satisfied with the current life you are living, and leaving your current familiar lifestyle to change that. 

Noelle Hancock writes it herself in beautiful words. So take a few minutes our of your day and just go read the article. Really though. Go read it.

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Inexpensive Traveling Tips

Travel magazines such as Luxury Travel Magazine, Sphere, and Travel + Leisure, focus on luxurious traveling, and are aimed towards a wealthy audience that looks to spend a lot of money on embellished hotel rooms, fancy drinks, and exorbitant cruises and tours.

For the rest of us, especially someone like me (a broke college student), extravagant traveling is not even an option. When it comes to inexpensive traveling, Rick Steves has a lot of suggestions. In his article “Thrifty 50 Travel Tips,” he lists his recommendations that “keep your dream trip affordable”.

Some of his tips include:

Avoid touristy restaurants

Travel off-season

Travel with a partner

Don’t overtip

Hostels offer countless cheap dorm beds

Read more of Steves’s tips in the full article:  Thrifty 50 Travel Tips

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When I think back to some of the greatest times of my life, I realize most of them are from when I was traveling.

Me (Aleks Berzins)

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Traveling alone allows you to learn about yourself. So does writing.

I think that if you just stared at a blank piece of paper and you picked up a pen and just started to scribble whatever words came to mind, you would learn something about yourself. Writing things down allows your thoughts to be written and expressed in a beautiful form of these tiny shapes that we call letters that we put together to form words.

People write about all kinds of things (fashion, jobs, politics, family life, the environment, religion, social issues, technology, their personal lives, etc), but my personal favorite seems to be when people write about their traveling experiences. It all interests me. I love writing and reading about the people, beliefs, traditions, food, art, and languages that people encounter when traveling. It’s as though you read someone’s written expeditions and you see pictures of someone who has experienced a place firsthand and it allows you to live vicariously through someone’s adventures.

This is why I want to travel. And that is what I want to write about.